It's been a wild ride of a week! Sub-zero temperatures and piles of snow all around. Then, today the promise of 39°. That sounds absolutely balmy! James would remind us to be patient as we wait for the changing of the seasons (James 5:7). His advice of patience applies both to seasons of the year as well as seasons of difficulty and disappointment. "You also, be patient," James writes, "Establish your hearts" (James 5:8). It's patience that promises growth. It's patience that trust for better da...
Feb 21, 2021•26 min
I don't know how many times I've heard it said, "Lord willin' and the creek don't rise!" Are you making it to church this Sunday? Can I count on you to be there? "Lord willin' and the . . . " well . . . today it's more like, "Lord willin' and the pipes don't freeze!" That familiar saying does have its origin in the Bible, you know. In James 4:15, we're told that rather than trust in our plans, we should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." James confronts the reality that ...
Feb 14, 2021•26 min
What Causes Quarrels? James 4:1-10 by Bret Hammond
Feb 07, 2021•25 min
A Funeral Service for Pam Harmon by Bret Hammond
Feb 05, 2021•31 min
Over 300,000 people are injured with kitchen knives every year. The vast majority of injuries are caused by carelessness. The person using the knife didn't realize how sharp it was, got their fingers in the wrong place, or handled the knife wrong. And yet, kitchen knives are useful tools. What's the answer? How do we keep from hurting ourselves and others? James has similar things about another useful tool--your tongue. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human b...
Jan 31, 2021•27 min
"As useless as a screendoor on a submarine." What a great image! A screendoor on a submarine would not only be useless, but it would also prevent the submarine from . . . well . . . submarining! Or, more appropriately, un-submarining. Rich Mullins used this imagery in his song "Screen Door." It's there he sings, "Faith without works is like a song you can't sing. It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine." Rich was doing his best to put music and heart to the words of James 2:17, "Fa...
Jan 24, 2021•22 min
“Minimum daily requirements.” Those are the words I look for on the bottles of the vitamins and supplements I take every day. My doctor has convinced me that between her pills and these potions, I should remain relatively healthy. So far, so good. “Minimum daily requirements” gives us the least amount necessary for the supplements to be effective. It’s not overdoing it; it’s not more than needed. “It ain’t much, but it’ll work.” We almost seem to have a “minimum daily requirement” in James 2:8. ...
Jan 17, 2021•24 min
This past week, we had a front-row seat to the destructive power of anger. It was more than buildings and property, though; we saw anger destroy trust. We watched anger give birth to fear, division, mistrust of our leaders, and each other. That's just how powerful anger is. But there's still so much that anger cannot do. James tells us, "the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20). If you have chosen to follow Jesus and welcomed his reign into your life, you've chose...
Jan 10, 2021•26 min
What's Below the Surface; James 1:1-18 by Bret Hammond
Jan 03, 2021•22 min
This sermon was written for a class I took on Creative Biblical Preaching. When I originally wrote it, I had no intention of preaching it. But, I got a lot of encouragement from the professor, other students, and friends, so here it is! We also had a lot of fun putting the video for this sermon together. You can check it out at this link: https://youtu.be/CQpxoNBcuIU Huge thanks to Hannah Brimner for editing it together and making it look awesome!
Dec 27, 2020•20 min
The good news you share with others changes their world.
Dec 21, 2020•18 min
"God with us" doesn't begin and end with Jesus' birth. "God with us" is a gift we give to those around us when we meet them in their hurts.
Dec 13, 2020•21 min
At the end of Luke's Gospel, there's one more encounter, one more engagement, one more table. And we're invited to sit and eat.
Dec 06, 2020•27 min
Every table in Luke's Gospel has led us to this table.
Nov 22, 2020•21 min
Luke's point all through his Gospel has been "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." Here, in the story of Zacchaeus, he illustrates what Jesus does for everyone who comes to him.
Nov 14, 2020•26 min
From the beginning of his Gospel, Luke has promised that Jesus will give sight to the blind. Here, as he approaches Jerusalem, he finally keeps that promise.
Nov 08, 2020•24 min
A rich man came to Jesus asking, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" What must you DO? You have to be born into the family to inherit!
Oct 25, 2020•21 min
A Funeral Service for Jim Webb by Bret Hammond
Oct 23, 2020•23 min
The only thing you can bring to Jesus is your hopelessness.
Oct 18, 2020•23 min
One of the godliest things you can do for someone is hearing them.
Oct 04, 2020•26 min
When you give someone a reason to be thankful, you give them a reason to have faith.
Sep 27, 2020•25 min
The greatest poverty is loneliness; your greatest gift is yourself.
Sep 20, 2020•27 min
When you invest in other people, you're investing in the Kingdom of God.
Sep 13, 2020•26 min
When we celebrate God's grace toward others, we receive his grace for ourselves.
Sep 06, 2020•25 min
When we join Jesus in his search, he welcomes us to his celebration.
Aug 30, 2020•22 min
Jesus calls each of us to make room at his table.
Aug 23, 2020•28 min
We are the answer to the prayer, "Your kingdom come."
Aug 16, 2020•25 min
When you belong to Jesus, what you have belongs to him.
Aug 09, 2020•24 min
What's vital to God needs to be vital to us, because it's vital for our world.
Aug 02, 2020•27 min
The Father longs to engage with us through prayer.
Jul 26, 2020•21 min
